FOR THE last 12 months, Carlton’s way of life has been defined by being Stronger Together.
It was the message Michael Voss had used with his playing group in the 2023 pre-season, it was what the Blues used as their call-to-arms for the 2023 finals series, it remained in season 2024 and continues to be implemented for the Club’s second straight September.
And the Navy Blue supporter base has well and truly lived that all year — you only need to look at the crowds the Blues played in front of to see that.
But while the Blues have always traditionally played in front of big crowds, it was to a historic level some 160 years after the Club’s inception.
The Blues smashed their home attendance record in 2024, averaging a home crowd of 58,311 throughout the season. It beat a 17-year record, when the Blues averaged 53,212 to home games in season 2011.
"I pass on our thanks, our gratitude, to our supporters. For being able to provide that level of energy, to try and pick the boys up and keep them going."#StrongerTogether
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) August 25, 2024
It was on the back of incredible attendance at both the MCG and Marvel Stadium, which saw the Blues have the No.1 home attendance at both venues this year.
At Marvel Stadium, the Blues only played in front of one home crowd with less than 40,000 people, when 39,597 watched the Round 11 clash with Gold Coast — beating the previous record between the two sides by nearly 8,000 people.
Then, at the MCG, Carlton averaged home crowds of 78,141 people in 2024 at the home of football, with three well in excess of 80,000 people.
That’s not including away games against Collingwood, Essendon and Geelong, which went beyond the 85,000-crowd figure. In doing so, it meant the Blues on average played in front of a crowd of over 55,000 people — the highest average in the Club’s history, and just the second time they averaged crowds of over 50,000 in their history.
Leading into a second consecutive finals series, starting with a trip to the Gabba, you know the message is going to be very similar to the one which saw thousands of Blues head to Brisbane for last year’s preliminary final.
Stronger Together.
Carlton record home attendance
58,311 (2024)
53,212 (2011)
51,421 (2023)
49,784 (2022)
48,589 2008)
Carlton record average home-and-away attendance
55,527 (2024)
50,369 (2023)
49,989 (2009)
49,553 (2011)
48,659 (2008)
Average home crowd attendance in 2024
78,141 (MCG) — No.1 in AFL for MCG home games
41,785 (Marvel Stadium) — No.1 in AFL for Marvel Stadium home games
